Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-06-21
Gales aud Sketfhes.


rising over Towering hedges
Bell. watching by the meadow. whence
she cor d soonest hear step which came
not, smothered sigh. She was not
much addicted to signing, surely. Her
days were too busy. But this particular
dav had been so long and trying. and the
children had been SO troublesome. Aunt
Bells hands had been more than full. Not
large hands. either. Rather very small
and delicate. though the fingers were q
little roughened by contact with this and
tha-. Vane Stephenson had resented the
amount of helpfulness volunteered by
those small hands more than once.
why DO you drudge sep he had
said. angrily.
Then Bell. patiently, would explain
Jessie so delicate and poor Tom out of a
position. what else could she do?
Vane would be silent
You're little saint, Bell"
Tnis, or anv other word of eudear-
ment from him, was always enough to
bring the roses TO her cheeks, even though
the charming face might have looked a
tr1e pale and wan before.
The color came now with sudden
rush as the well known form turned the
corner at last!
Vane was absent-minded tonight. He
took no notice of her pretty dress, made
by her own def fingers, in
colors his artists eye approved. 1t had
cost her many deprivation, that dress,
cheap and simple as ii was, and it had
been made only that she might be pretty
in his sight. Poor little Bells eyes sank.
But she sat down by his side in the small.
shabby parlor in silence.
whats made you late, Vane, dear?"
she said, softly at length. 1t was rarely
she even questioned him thus far. Her
reserve and reticence amused and incensed
her sister 1t was not that Jessie was
unkind wilfully, only she did not believe
in these long engagements.
"Oh, I've been harassed in hundred
ways" replied Stephenson, irritably.
The whole thing is beastlv grind. My
'Francesa da Rimini' has been sent back
from San Francisco. Eely thought lie
could sell it so easily! Well, this is the
result And-oh well. the usual troub-
les. No use retailing them over to you,
Bell. We ought to talk of something else
besides filthy lucre-or the want of it,"
He laughed, though trtle harshly.
~ am very sorry, - murmured Bell.
"By the way" he continued, changing
to lighter tone, In which there was
perhaps the least little sign of embarras>-
mcnt, not unnoliced by Bells gentle ear.
II am going eff to leave you for few
davs-out of town. My brains (what
there is of them) are fairly drying up.
Unless give them a soaking into some
refreshing fluid by change of scene and
,,n mir wv inh ic r.,
make one person immortal and two
e'ernally happy will never get Itself done,
Do YOU mind my goingP"
II think it will do you good and be better
Tor your work. too. An artist cannot
drudge in one groove forever. No, dc
not mind. And it is getting so hot now
also iD this city"
81 wish you could have a change, little
girl" said Vane taking her slim hand in
his. Don't you think you'll get away
for few days2'
No" said Bell, softly. Poor Tom
Vane could not master moment of i'm
patience. "Poor Toni If ever there
was shiftless individual!
He STAYED quite late, and was more
tender than he had been for some time
As he was going away he took her delicate
| FACET looked trif1e drawn. and there
were rings about the dark eyes-in both
his palms.
Don't forget me when I'm away" he
said, smiling down at her. And take
good care of yourself. Don't sacrifice
Yourself too much, child. Do you hear p
She managed to smile in return.
81 shan't forget YOU" she said very
low.
He stood thus moment longer. They
made a picture such as Millais' brush
would have loved. The fair pale Cir
with the dark eyes. and the tall. handsome
fellow; for Vane Stephenson was conspic
uously handsome, without a doubt. Among
the artists he went by the name of Beauty
VAIN Then he stopped and kissed her
and as he got to the corner he turned
again, and from her post at the window
she saw him nod at her. smiling once
more, standing in the moonlight. She
remained there moment after he haC
disappeared, and the hand that resteC
against the curtains trembled little.
"Well !" cried Jessie's somewhat shril
voice from the back room, "has Vant
gone When is he coming again ?"
Jessie lay on the lounge in a shapees'
mass of wrapper and shawls, as usual
despite the sultriness of the night. Sh'
had had one of her attacks during tn,
day and was more querulous than custo
mary.
"vane is going away tor little Will
out of town"
Going to some fashionable place.
suppose, with some fashionable friends =
cried the invalid. Then rs her siste
made no reply: IF he saved up his none
instead of spending it that way, you coult
have been married before this. But al
ways told you, Bell. you were too veal
with him. What did you say to him abou
his going away?"
Nothing" replied the girl YEARLY.
Let Bell alone. Jess" said Toms soft
slow voice. from the depths of an arm
chair. in which he sat in state of neglig,
equal to his wife's. The child's tired
let her 60 to bed"
Bell cast a grateful glance toward he
brother-n-law's large, mild face. Sh,
and poor. unluckv. always out of posi-
ton. and, if the truth must be confessed
law Tom, were the best of friends.
was not the first time he had shielded he
with delicacy that never failed. from he
sisters well meant but narrowing on
slaughts.
Bell crept up stairs. On. those COLDER
simmer DAYS down by the sea, when frs